{"id":16794,"date":"2022-05-30T17:55:11","date_gmt":"2022-05-30T15:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/?p=117299"},"modified":"2022-05-30T18:19:21","modified_gmt":"2022-05-30T16:19:21","slug":"goshawk-guide-how-to-identify-behaviour-and-where-to-see-in-britain","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/goshawk-guide-how-to-identify-behaviour-and-where-to-see-in-britain\/","title":{"rendered":"Goshawk guide: how to identify, behaviour and where to see in Britain"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By James Alred\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 30 May 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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There is something larger than life, yet strangely intangible, about the northern goshawk. Some creatures are stitched so deeply into the fabric of their habitat that it becomes almost impossible to separate the two. So it is for goshawks and the densely forested landscapes they inhabit.<\/p>\n

Goshawks are particularly fond of coniferous woodland. The anonymous, shadowy ranks of fir, spruce and hemlock seem to embody the bird\u2019s mysterious nature. Even the goshawk\u2019s sharply lineated plumage echoes the angular contrast of light and shadow in such places.<\/p>\n

What is a goshawk?<\/h2>\n

Goshawks large hawks and ambush predators, requiring dense cover from which to launch an attack. They are perfectly adapted to their wooded environment and their highly predatorial lifestyle. A deeply muscled chest designed for explosive acceleration; broad rounded wings; a long tail for balance; a shape-shifting ability to weave through branches at high speed; acute hearing; and pinsharp eyesight. All are supreme adaptations to hunting at speed below the tree canopy. They have acute hearing and pin-sharp eyesight.<\/p>\n

How big are goshawks?<\/h2>\n

Females reach 48\u201362cm; almost the size of a buzzard. Male goshawks grow to 600\u20131,100g, while female goshawks reach 900\u20132,000g.<\/p>\n

Their long rudderlike shape increases agility and balance, and their powerful with sharp talons are used to crush and suffocate prey. Goshawks are deeply muscled for explosive acceleration.<\/p>\n

What is the wingspan of a goshawk?<\/h2>\n

A goshawk\u2019s wingspan is usually between 135 and 165cm. Their wings are short, broad and rounded for better aerial agility when hunting.<\/p>\n

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Goshawk with its wings open\/Credit: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

How do goshawks hunt?<\/h2>\n

Goshawks often spend hours perching motionless on branches in overgrown plantations, punctuated by tracks, rides and glades.<\/p>\n

Such hunting methods require a finely tuned mental map of complex three-dimensional environments, and an ability to learn from mistakes. There is little doubt that goshawks routinely plan hunts in meticulous detail before they even begin a chase.<\/p>\n

Goshawks are intelligent \u2013 even calculating \u2013 in their ability to problem-solve and think ahead.<\/p>\n

Goshawks don\u2019t worry much about making a clean kill, especially of larger prey. Whereas a peregrine falcon, for example, will usually kill its prey on impact after a carefully timed stoop \u2013 following up with a merciful nip to the neck if required \u2013 a goshawk will simply grab the closest part of its quarry it can and wrestle it to the ground, where a lot of thrashing and flapping ensues as it uses its long legs and powerful talons to squeeze the life out of its prey.<\/p>\n

Goshawks\u2019 shadowy hunting methods help explain why it can be so difficult to see them in the wild.<\/p>\n

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A female goshawk feeding on a male cock pheasant\/Credit: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

What do goshawks eat and hunt for?<\/h2>\n

A goshawk\u2019s diet is eclectic. If the goshawk can catch it and kill it, it will. The only limiting aspect is the bird\u2019s body size, agility and speed in relation to any given quarry. Males tend to specialise in smaller passerines, corvids (they love jays) and woodpigeons.<\/p>\n

Females are much larger \u2013 they can be real bruisers. I have seen females kill and carry fully grown rabbits to the nest. Grey squirrels are a staple and there have even been apocryphal tales of them predating fox cubs.<\/p>\n

Read more<\/strong><\/p>\n